AGENDA #4c
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Award of Bid for Engine 34 Replacement
DATE: January 13, 2003
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to purchase a fire pumper for use by the Fire Department based on the bid of KME Fire Apparatus, Inc. at a cost of $330,926.94.
Funding for this purchase is included in the Vehicle Replacement Fund established by the Council.
The purchase of this fire truck to replace Engine 34 on front line service at Fire Station #4 (Weaver Dairy and Airport Road) is included in the Vehicle Replacement Fund. The truck would be the primary responding unit from Fire Station #4. Delivery time for this type of fire truck is 260 days from the time of order.
The fire truck is a full-sized fire pumper equipped to carry 500 gallons of water and a full complement of ground ladders, equipment and hose needed to suppress fires and respond to other emergencies.
Attachment A details responsiveness of the five bids evaluated by Fire Department staff. Ferrara Fire Apparatus submitted the low bid of $318,633. Ferrara’s main bid did not meet a primary specification of a single source manufacturer. Ferrara offered an alternate bid of $350,821 that included a single source manufacturer. HME submitted a low bid of $321,994; however, they failed to provide forty seven (47) specific items required by the Fire Department’s specifications. Although KME submitted a bid of $330,926, they met all but one minor requirement (one air conditioner condenser versus two air conditioner condensers).
The cost for replacing Engine 34 was originally estimated at approximately $360,000. The recommended bid is within that budget.
Specifications and bid notices were distributed to thirteen (13) vendors in North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin and also to four (4) minority business organizations in North Carolina.
The Notice to Bidders was published in The Chapel Hill News classifieds on Sunday, November 3, 2002. Five (5) bids were received and opened on November 12, 2002. The bids received were as follows:
|
Vendor |
Bid |
|
|
|
|
Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. 27855 James Chapel Road, Holden, Louisiana 70744
|
$318,633.00 |
|
HME, Incorporated 1950 Byron Center Avenue, Wyoming, Michigan 49509
|
$321,994.00 |
|
KME Fire Apparatus One Industrial Complex, Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania 18240
|
$330,926.94 |
|
Quality Manufacturing, Inc. 1420 Nimitz Avenue, Talladega, Alabama
|
$331,091.00 |
|
American LaFrance Corporation 8500 Palmetto Commerce Parkway, Ladson, South Carolina 29456
|
$333,866.00 |
The bid by KME Fire Apparatus, Inc. meets all specifications except for one minor item, as noted above, and is the lowest responsive bid. None of the five bids met 100% of the specifications.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Manager award bids for a Fire Pumper to KME Fire Apparatus, Inc. for the bid price of $330,926.94.
1. Engine 34 Bid Specification Grading Sheet (p. 4)
A RESOLUTION AWARDING BIDS FOR A FIRE PUMPER TO KME APPARATUS, INC. (2003-01-13/R-2)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill solicited formal bids by legal notice in The Chapel Hill News on November 3, 2002, in accordance with G.S. 143-129 for the purchase of a Fire Pumper; and
WHEREAS, the low, responsive bid was submitted by KME Fire Apparatus, Inc. at the bid price of $330,926.94 and met the specifications established by the Town;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council awards the bids for a Fire Pumper to KME Fire Apparatus, Inc. in the amount of $330,926.94.
This the 13th day of January, 2003.